You may learn more about the UBC CLF Theme options by reviewing the CMS Manual and the CMS Features page. The Theme is developed by CTLT.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is an open-source publishing platform used to power millions of websites around the world. Thanks in large part to the thousands of plugins, widgets, and themes contributed back to the software by the open source community, WordPress has evolved beyond its original roots as a blogging tool and is now used as the basis for a broader range of online publishing needs including content management.

What is a CMS?

CMS stands for Content Management System; a CMS can enable the sustainable creation and on-going maintenance of high-quality websites by establishing a common baseline of standards such as the consistent use of a common look and feel template (or “CLF”), as well as common platforms on which to build new emerging technologies.

What is responsive design?

A responsive webpage changes the content layout and what content is visible based on the browser window size. This allows a single webpage to function well on various desktop or laptop computer screens, on tablet computers, and on phones or other mobile devices with web browsers.

The site dashboard

If you’re new to WordPress, have a look at these key components of the dashboard.

How do I create the Menu of my site?

As you add new top-level Pages, they are automatically added to your website’s menu. You can manually edit the menu from Appearance > Menus in the Dashboard. Learn more.

How do I publish my site?

Your site is initially configured so that only the site administrator(s) can view it. When you are ready to open your site to the public, change the option Settings> Reading > Site Visibility to “Allow search engines to index this site.”

What are the design constraints?

Faculty of Education websites should use the UBC CLF. Certain regions of the UBC CLF are optional, but others are required or highly recommended. If you choose new colours, for example, the colour contrast should meet web accessibility guidelines. See the CLF Guidelines for details.

What are user roles?

WordPress users can have different levels of permissions which allow their account to perform certain actions. Most users should be assigned to the Editor role. Learn more.

What are the limitations of my new site?

WordPress does not support password-protected files; it is not designed for security, and should not be used for sharing confidential or sensitive information with a group of people. The WordPress service is not intended for intranet hosting.

Whom can I contact for help?

The UBC CMS Manual is a great place to learn how to use the UBC CMS. The Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology conducts regular support clinics every Monday and Thursday at 1–3 p.m. For urgent requests requiring immediate action, email cms.support@ubc.ca. You may also request help from Education IT through the online form.

I want to track web visitors by using analytics

How do I add images and documents to the site?

Images and documents are uploaded to the WordPress media library and can be linked or embedded on any page or post. Learn more.

How do I add advanced formatting to content?

The formatting toolbar has standard options such as Bold and Italics font. You can enable additional options, including tables and Paste from Word buttons, by clicking “Show/Hide Kitchen Sink” on the toolbar. You can add complex formatting, such as columns and collapsing sections, through shortcodes. You can also use Widgets to add features to your site.

You may need to activate the plugin MCE Table Buttons 2.0 and/or TinyMCE Advanced 3.5.8 for all options to appear in the editing toolbars.

You can insert special or accented characters (such as é) by clicking the Omega (“insert custom character”) button in the Kitchen Sink toolbar. A window will then appear where you can select the special character to be inserted.

I need to make a form

The Gravity Forms plugin is a capable solution for creating online forms. To get started, refer to this documentation.

How would I create a Twitter widget on my site?

The Twitter widget for your account is generated by Twitter, and you can embed it on your site using a Text widget or Section widget. Detailed instructions from the CMS Manual. The method to add other social media feeds, such as Facebook, are similar.

What are Categories?

You can define your own categories and assign posts or pages to one or more categories. Categories are useful, but not essential, for searching and to control some parts of your website. Read more.

How do I update the slideshow on my home page?

The UBC CLF uses Posts assigned to Slideshow category to generate the home page slideshow. Attach a Featured Image to the post and that image will appear in the slideshow; the image will be cropped and resized to fit the browser window (the optimal image size is 770 × 350 px). Change its appearance at Theme Options > Front Page > Feature Slider in the WordPress dashboard. If you want to remove an item from the slideshow, you can delete (move to Trash) the post or remove the Slideshow category.

You will need to adjust the “Screen Options” for posts so you can fill in an excerpt. The excerpt is used in the feature slider on the home page.